Regional Staff

Kirsten Knox

Kirsten Knox, Regional Director for YMI Florida, was part of the second class to complete the YMI two-year coaching and training class in 2009. She has since been a coach on multiple occasions. Kirsten Knox is married and a graduate of Asbury University with a degree in youth ministry. She began working in youth ministry in 2000, serving Pasadena Community United Methodist Church for a decade.

Kathy Rexroad

Kathy Rexroad obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1975 from West Virginia University. While serving as volunteer nursery coordinator at an Orlando area church, Kathy felt God’s call into a life of ministry. While serving for over 25 years at that church, she “grew up” with the children she served and became their youth minister. As the church’s longest tenured staff member, she received the unique blessing of watching some of her former youth alumni respond to their call to ministry and others return to their church home as godly spouses and parents. In December 2010, Kathy retired from her ministry to serve her family that included four new grand babies, with her husband, Gregg. In September 2012, she was hired as the Coaching Coordinator for the Youth Ministry Institute. In addition, Kathy coaches, leads a small group, serves as a Youth Ministry Assessor and board secretary, and teaches Student Leadership.

Carl Rinderle

Carl Rinderle is a Chemical Engineering graduate from University of Florida (’90) who has been the director of the Soldiers For Christ Student Ministry at Palm Harbor United Methodist Church since 2002. He first realized his passion for working with students while he was working for Dow Chemical company in Texas in 1991, when he and his wife Angela started a high school youth ministry in their Lutheran church as volunteers. Carl’s engineering career took him from there to Georgia and back to the Tampa Bay area over the next 12 years, finally landing in Palm Harbor in 1997. While still a full-time engineer he began assisting with the High School youthgroup at Palm Harbor UMC where he eventually returned as Director in August of 2002 after responding to God’s call for him to move into full-time ministry. He has also taught the Middle School Bible Class for 12 years at Westlake Christian School on the PHUMC campus. Carl and his wife Angela are big Gator fans and have three awesome kids.

Dr. Daryl Smith is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He received a B.A. from Spring Arbor University (Music Education), 1970; an M.A.R. from Asbury Theological Seminary (Christian Education), 1985; and an Ed.D. from the University of Kentucky, (Instructional Design Systems), 1995.
Dr. Smith is an ordained pastor in the South Atlantic Conference of the Free Methodist Church USA. He is a member of the SAC Ministerial Education and Guidance Board.
Dr. Smith is the 2008 recipient of the Alumni Professional Excellence Award from Spring Arbor University. He is a member of the International Christian Mentoring Network, the Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators (EATFE), and the Association for Theological Field Education (ATFE). He is also Pastoral Team Leader for the Orlando Free Methodist Fellowship, an incarnational, missional-ministry community.
His writings include: Two chapters in Preparing for Ministry: a practical guide to theological field education, More Than a Great Wedding: creating healthy communities where relationships thrive. He has also partnered with students to create The Gathering Place Series, a four-book, small group resource. His latest projects include a second edition of More Than a Great Wedding and Servant Leading a Village Group.
Dr. Smith and his wife, Carolyn, have three grown children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, two great sons-in-law, four grandchildren — and more on the way.
Dr. Smith teaches Moral and Spiritual Development for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Scott McQueen

Scott is currently at Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg where he has served as the Director of Youth Ministry since 2000 as well as the Director of Children’s ministry since 2008. Prior to arriving at Riviera UMC, Scott spent 8 years in a variety of roles within the mental health system including Case Management and Therapeutic Foster Care Supervisor. He is married to Laurie, his wife of 23 years and they have 3 children. Scott is a graduate of Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC where he earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and played 2nd base for the baseball program.

Jon Michael has been serving in youth ministry since 2008. He is a graduate of they University of Florida and is currently the High School Pastor at Van Dyke United Methodist Church, where he has served since 2015. Jon Michael also serves as a verbatim coach for YMI and is a YMI Class of 2013 graduate. He is married to Jessca and has a daughter, Lily Grace. Jon Michael loves basketball, the YMCA, biking to work, Starbucks, and his family!

Randy Winton

Randy Winton has been in full-time Youth Ministry for over 20 years and loves seeing his youth members grow in their faith, especially on mission experiences. He serves as the Executive Director of HAPPENING, a renewal program for High School students in the Episcopal Church. He loves the outdoors, fishing, hunting and the beach and especially loves college football. He’s married to Chattie and has 3 awesome kids.

Mark Bitner

Mark was born and raised in the great state of Minnesota, don't ya know. He attended North Central University in downtown Minneapolis, studying youth ministries. While in college Mark worked as a 6th grade pastor at Lord of Life Church for one year. After that he spent four years as a high school pastor at Horizons Community Church, interning part of the time and working on staff. Mark felt called to full-time ministry and warm weather, and in July of 2006 he moved to Leesburg, Florida to serve as a full-time Youth Pastor. Mark has been at FUMC DeLand since March of 2009 as the Director of Student Ministries. He has been coaching with YMI since August of 2014.
It was at North Central University that Mark met his beautiful wife Mae. They got married in July of 2005. Together they have two daughters, Isabel who was born in December of 2007, and Isla who was born in February of 2012. Mark enjoys all sorts of sports and everything that goes with them. He plays golf, football, basketball, raquetball and anything else with a ball. He is also a huge fan of his Minnesota sports teams, Florida sports teams, and a fan of the only university in Florida worth watching...The Gators.

Krista Mulhollen

Krista has a degree in youth ministry from Mars Hill University. She has over 15 years experience in youth ministry, including Youth for Christ and full-time local church youth ministry. She is also a consultant for the Ministry Architects. She lives with her husband and three girls in Venice, Florida.

John Terech

John Terech is the Director of Operations for ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, a fast growing denomination in the Reformed tradition. He has served as Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Palm City Presbyterian Church for 8 years prior to taking this position. John is a certified life coach and an YMI coach. He is located in Palm City, Florida, with his wife, Patty, and three children.

Bob Blagg

Bob Blagg has been in youth ministry for 15 years. He is currently the Youth Minister at Lake Magdalene UMC (Tampa, FL), where he has served for 8 ½ years. Bob also serves as a verbatim coach for YMI and is an YMI Class of 2010 graduate. He has been married to Jenn for 21 years and has 3 kids, Zach, Emily, and Annie. Bob loves fishing, hiking, camping, missions, and of course youth ministry!

Browning Wood

Browning Wood lives in Montgomery, Alabama, where he is youth pastor at St. James UMC. Browning has served as a youth pastor for the last 25 years in Texas, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. He earned his undergraduate from Texas Tech University with a bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Substance Abuse Specialties. Browning has two children. Completing seminary, enjoying the great outdoors, and writing are some of his goals. He teaches Small Group Discipleship for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Anne Taylor

Anne Taylor did her undergraduate work at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 1982. After college she moved to Orlando to begin her career in youth ministry at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park. During that time she received her Masters of Christian Education from Loyola University. In 1987 she was hired as the training director for the Institute for Professional Youth Ministry by the Diocese of Central FL . She held this position until she returned to parish work in 1991. After working at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in College Park, where she met her husband and started her family, she was hired by the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in 1995 as the Canon for Youth and Missions. Currently she works for IDignity as their Development Director. Anne coaches, leads a small group and teaches Spiritual Disciplines, Sustaining Youth Ministry for the Long Haul, Fund Raising, Planning Family Events and Managing Parent Expectations for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Dr. Gary Spencer

Dr. Gary Spencer has been the District Superintendent of the Atlantic Central District in the Florida conference of the United Methodist Church since July 2011. Gary is a native of Florida, growing up in the West Palm Beach area. Gary attended Florida Southern College where he majored in Religion. After graduation from Florida Southern, he earned his Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Gary was awarded his Doctorate of Ministry from Princeton Seminary, Princeton University in 1996. It was while attending Candler School of Theology that he met his wife, Judy, to whom he has been married for over 25 years. Judy and Gary have two adult children, Kirby and Katie. Gary is the founding chairman of the YMI board of directors and teaches the Leadership series for the Youth Ministry Institute which includes five courses.

Chris Tabone

Chris Tabone is the Director of Student Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Clermont, Florida. He has served in a youth ministry capacity at four other churches since 2002. He graduated with a B.S. in student ministry and minor in Biblical literature from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is married to his best friend, Carrie. they have two daughters. In his free time, Chris enjoys marathon running, reading a good book or watching super hero television shows. He teaches Recruiting and Equipping Volunteers for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Josh Reinken

Josh Reinken is a YMI Alumni and grew up in Charlotte, NC. Here he worked for the YMCA in camping and family programs for 7 years before attending Capernwray Harbour Bible School on the west coast and then moving to north Florida to be a Youth Minister. He has now been at his church First UMC in Starke, FL since 2010. Josh enjoys anything that has to do with extreme sports and is a poor, but aspiring surfer. However, his main passion is students, coffee talks and all things Jesus.

Dr. Jonathan Grenz has more than 20 years of ministry experience. He has served as associate pastor in youth ministry and Christian education, lead pastor and director of a parachurch ministry. His ministry experience has spanned the Midwest, northwest, southern California, western Canada, and now Florida. He has led numerous short-term mission groups and recently has enjoyed opportunities to teach pastors in the Philippines and Ukraine. He graduated from Taylor University College and Seminary with a bachelor of arts and a masters of divinity. He received his Ph.D. from Biola University. Jon is a full-time faculty member at Palm Beach Atlantic University, teaching Ministry Leadership Studies and Student Ministries. He is married to Susan and has two children, Jesse and Phoebe. Jon teaches the Systematic Theology core theology course for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Jane Cole

Jane Cole is a Certified Professional Organizer® and is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and the Institute for Challenging Organization. She has worked as a Professional Organizer in the Orlando area since 1998 teaching her clients how to clean out, pare down, get organized, and to be good stewards of their things. Jane graduated with a bachelor of science in elementary education from the University of Central Florida. She teaches Organizing for Success for the Youth Ministry Institute and is the former chair of the YMI board of directors.

Suzette Dohany

Suzette Dohany earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Acting and a Masters in Science in Interpersonal Communications from Florida State University. She has been teaching at Valencia College since 1993. Her areas of specialty include Speech, Student Success, Cross Cultural Communications and Student Leadership. She is a certified True Colors Consultant bringing that expertise to the Youth Ministry Institute.

Emily Felgenhauer

Emily Felgenhauer is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois, with a degree in communications and the Youth Ministry Institute in Orlando, Florida. At a Chrysalis retreat her freshman year of high school her life changed. From that point, “I understood what a ‘relationship with Jesus’ really meant,” she says. Emily is the proud aunt of two nephews, She has a chocolate lab, Bear, “who means the world to me.” She currently is the youth minister at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida. Emily teaches Delivering an Effective Message for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Dr. Bryce Hagedorn

Dr. Bryce Hagedorn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Master Addiction Counselor, and a Qualified Clinical Supervisor for the state of Florida and currently works as the program director of counselor education at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. His duties include teaching, supervising, conducting research, and serving on a variety of state, regional, and national organizations dedicated to addictions, spirituality, and counseling. Over the past 13 years, Bryce has worked in a variety of clinical settings, to include private practice, community mental health clinics, inpatient/outpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, and college counseling centers. A nationally and internationally recognized speaker and author Bryce’s research has significantly contributed to the development of assessment and treatment strategies for working with addicted clients and their families. He has a Ph.D. from the University of North Caroloina at Greensboro, a Master of Arts in counselor education from the University of Central Florida and a degree in psychology from The University of Illinois at Chicago. Bryce teaches Counseling Foundations and Family Systems Theory for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Kim Koi

Kim Koi received a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2014 and a Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College in 1999. She joined InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in 2002 to develop and send college students to reach their peers on campus with the relevant truth of the Gospel. InterVarsity's primary strategy for reaching the campus is Small Group Bible studies which utilize the Inductive Bible Study method. In her current role as the Area Director for Central Florida, Kim leads these Bible studies on college campuses and oversees the training of students in Inductive Bible Study throughout Central Florida. As a student at Asbury, she had a particular love for Inductive Bible Study classes, completing six IBS classes and receiving the Robert E. Traina Inductive Bible Study scholarship. Kim teaches Teaching the Bible for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Dr. Ryan Reeves

Dr. Ryan Reeves, a graduate of Samford University (B.A.) and Reformed Theological Seminary (M.A. and M.Div.), is the Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Jacksonville Campus). In 2010, Ryan completed a Ph.D. in Church History from the University of Cambridge on Tudor evangelicalism. In 2009, he received the Archbishop Cranmer Prize, awarded by the Cambridge History Faculty for an essay on the relationship between Zurich and the theology of William Tyndale. A Florida native, he is a zealous Tampa Bay Bucs fan and loves following both college and NFL football. He also enjoys music of all types, reading and spending time with family. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife, Charlotte, and two children. Ryan teaches the Church History core theology class for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Rev. Weaver Blondin

Rev. Weaver Blondin is the Executive Director of Hearts For Ministry Foundation, Inc. in Belle Isle, Florida, and an Associate Minister with Saint Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church. He lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Karone. He has worked with youth and young adults for the past 20 years serving at Frontline Outreach, an urban ministry, and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, Virginia. He has been on many, life changing, spiritually enriching international mission trips to evangelize, preach, and teach the gospel, including several African countries and Brazil. Weaver graduated from Faith Christian University where he received a Master of Divinity Degree in May 2004. Weaver teaches Evangelism for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Martha Shinn

Martha Shinn recently retired from Flagler College where she was Director of the Youth Ministry Program and also taught the classes for the Youth Ministry Minor for over 20 years. Martha worked with many students who went onto seminary or serve in various youth ministry positions. Before that position Martha served as a Young Life Area Director for 7 years. Martha currently is exploring what it means to be retired and enjoys time with her husband and volunteering with Young Life's Capernaum ministry.

Brian Katauskas

Brian Katauskas is the Pastor of Families and Students at the Oviedo campus of Northland Church. Brian has over fifteen years of full-time youth and family ministry experience. He graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University and Reformed Theological Seminary. He been on staff at Northland Church since 2006, serving his first nine years as the Pastor for Students at Northland’s Longwood campus. Brian is passionate about reaching the next generation with the truth of Jesus Christ and giving young people an opportunity to lead in the church today. Over the last three years, his focus has turned more towards families and parents, as he sees the need for student ministries and family ministries to work more closely together. He is the proud father of Cole and Caleb and the husband to Bre, who has been the most incredible support system for his ministry. Brian teaches Student Leadership for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Taylor Foley

Taylor has been serving in youth ministry since 2003. He has served in small, medium, and large churches, as well as rural and suburban churches. He is a graduate of Centre College and earned a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He currently has been serving since 2010 as the Director of Youth Ministry at Grace UMC in Cape Coral, FL. Grace Church is a vital, growing multi-site church with several campuses in Southwest Florida. Taylor's greatest joy is being married to Sara Jo and raising his children, Crews & Isla Adele, as well as, cheering on The University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball squad.

Merrill Frailey

Merrill Frailey is a native Central Floridian and is part of a big tribe that includes five children, three daughter in laws, a grand baby Millie and one on the way! Merrill has been a ICF Accredited Life and Family Coach for 10 years and is now the Senior Pastor at College Park United Methodist Church in Orlando Florida. Serving in ministry for over 30 years, Merrill’s experiences are vast including: Teaching women’s bible studies, leading effective communication and conflict resolution workshops, mission trips, years in youth ministry, as well as speaking at conferences, retreats and corporate events. Merrill uses her ability to love by sharing from her heart through her personal experiences to encourage and motivate others through God’s grace and with positive energy. With faith and humor Merrill will challenge you to Rise up and Live well. Merrill teaches Conflict Resolution and Effective Communication for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Bryan Amerling

Bryan is married, with two children. He has been a youth minister since 1998 in the same church. He has an engineering degree from the University of Florida and Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has had the opportunity to work with volunteers for long enough to partner with them in developing curriculum and strategies for ministry. Bryan teaches Retreats and Recreation for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Justin Cox

Justin Cox is the Minister to Youth and Families at First United Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University with a degree in entrepreneurship. He also completed the course work for the Youth Ministry Institute in 2012. When not ministering or helping youth workers to grow, he spends his time traveling and eating at interesting places with his wife Carla. Justin teaches Social Media and Electronic Communication for the Youth Ministry Institute.

Leneita Fix

Leneita has been involved in youth or family ministry for over 24 years serving in rural, suburban and urban settings, camps, small and large churches and non-profit organizations. She has authored or co-authored several youth ministry books, including Everybody’s UrbanUnderstanding the Survival Mode of the Next Generation and contributes to several youth ministry websites and curriculum companies including Leadertreks, Simply Youth Ministry, Lifetree Family, Download Youth Ministry, ParentMinisty.net, InWord and YM360. Leneita is the ministry and training coordinator for BowDown Church, co-founded a coaching and training organization called Frontline Urban Resources and lives with her amazing husband John and four children in Florida.

Matt Didway

Matt Didway is married to Emily. They are enjoying their young daughter. He spent 3 years at a small church in Frostproof, 7 years in Lakeland, and has been at Community Presbyterian Church in Celebration, Florida, since 2016. He graduated from Warner University in 2009 with a degree in church ministries and Christian education. Effective youth ministry is his passion and he is blessed to follow Gods calling on his life.

Jason Williams

Jason grew up in the small town of Eden, North Carolina. While in High School he attended a local Wesleyan Church and grew up in their youth ministry. He accepted Jesus as Savior at an early age but really began to understand God’s love and forgiveness in his teenage years. One summer at camp he felt that God was calling him to serve as a pastor. Jason pursued his call and attended Southern Wesleyan University and prepared for ministry. Jason graduated in 2006 with a Bachelors of Arts in Religion. After college, Jason served as a missionary pastor in Caboolture, Queensland Australia (Keith Urban’s hometown). He has been serving in Seminole, Florida as a youth pastor since 2009. Currently he is at Heritage United Methodist Church. He is also a 2011 graduate of the Youth Ministry Institute. Jason’s prayer is that young people will come to know that Jesus loves them and has a plan and purpose for their lives right now.

Greg Rusch

Greg Rusch has served at Grace Community UMC in Lithia, Florida, since 2009. He is married to Cindy. They have two children. Greg is a second career youth pastor. He graduated from University of South Florida in 1997 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent 18 years as a designer, shop manager, director of manufacturing and engineering manager. Greg enjoys cooking on the grill, working with his hands, and still loves skateboarding! He also enjoys a Rays game with his son, a musical with his daughter, a USF football game with Cindy, and Disney World with all 4 of them!
Greg spent many years at Grace working in the sound booth and various other areas before volunteering for the 2009 confirmation class. It was then that he felt the urge of the Spirit to be more involved in youth ministry. Greg has been a volunteer, interim pastor, part time pastor, and as of May 2016, he is in full time youth ministry.

David Stump

David Stump is currently the youth minister at Community of Faith UMC in Davenport, Florida. David is married to Melissa, who is the associate pastor at First UMC Lakeland. He is an YMI alumnus who is originally from Melbourne, Florida. This is David’s second career. He worked as a technician with the Ford Motor Company for many years. David and Melissa have four children and one grandson.